Women’s Reserved Seats in Bangladesh: A Systemic Analysis of Meaningful Representation Silja Paasilinna Disclaimer: This author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. Women’s Reserved Seats in Bangladesh: A Systemic Analysis of Meaningful Representation Copyright © 2016 International Foundation for Electoral Systems. All rights reserved. Permission Statement: No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of IFES. 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Table of Contents List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Limitations of the Study ............................................................................................................................ 2 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Current Systems of Reserved Seats .............................................................................................................. 5 Parliament ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Mixed Electoral Systems and Disproportionality – Bangladesh Parliament ......................................... 6 Sub-District Councils ................................................................................................................................. 8 Local Councils ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Quota for Women in Political Parties ......................................................................................................... 10 Women’s Representation – General and Reserved Seats .......................................................................... 10 Challenges for General Seat Holders and Contestants ........................................................................... 11 Lack of Financial Resources ................................................................................................................. 12 Existence of Separate Tier of Women’s Reserved Seats ..................................................................... 13 Systemic and Entrenched Violence in Politics .................................................................................... 13 First-Past-the-Post Electoral System ................................................................................................... 14 Relegation of Women to “Unwinnable” Seats .................................................................................... 14 Dependence on Male Family Members .............................................................................................. 15 Misunderstanding of the Roles and Responsibilities of Parliamentarians ......................................... 15 Challenges for Reserved Seats Holders and Contestants ....................................................................... 15 Non-transparent Nomination Process ................................................................................................ 16 Disregard for Merit ......................................................................................................................... 16 Undue Influence .............................................................................................................................. 17 Lack of Geographical and Socio-Economic Balance ........................................................................ 17 Size and Absence of District ................................................................................................................ 17 Lack of Constituency ....................................................................................................................... 17 Large District ................................................................................................................................... 18 Overlapping Mandates ........................................................................................................................ 19 Tokenism and Discrimination.............................................................................................................. 19 Indirect Election and Selection ........................................................................................................... 20 Ways to Ensure More Meaningful Women’s Representation .................................................................... 21 General Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 21 Improving Women’s Representation and Status within Political Parties ........................................... 21 Financial Support to Women Candidates and Representatives ......................................................... 22 Options for Systemic Changes to Reserved Seats ................................................................................... 23 Existing Structure of Separate Tier for Reserved Seats ...................................................................... 23 Increasing the Quota ....................................................................................................................... 24 Reforming the Nomination Process for Reserved Seats ................................................................. 25 Super-Districts for Women’s Seats ................................................................................................. 25 Alternate Threshold System ............................................................................................................ 26 Rotation System .............................................................................................................................. 28 Legislative Candidate Quotas .......................................................................................................... 29 Reforming the Electoral System.......................................................................................................... 30 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 30 Table 2: Comparison of Reserved Seat Systems in Bangladesh .................................................................. 32 Women’s Reserved Seats in Bangladesh: A Systemic Analysis of Meaningful Representation List of Acronyms AL Awami League BDT Bangladesh Taka BESA Bangladesh Election Support Activity BNP Bangladesh Nationalist Party CEC Chief Election Commissioner CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CEPPS Consortium for Elections and Political Processes Strengthening CSO Civil Society Organization DI Democracy International ECB Election Commission of Bangladesh FPTP First-past-the-post (electoral system) MMP Mixed member proportional (electoral system) MP Member of Parliament NGO Non-Governmental Organization PR Proportional representation (electoral system) RPO Representation of the People Order (election law) SHUJAN Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Citizens for Good Governance,